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The Origins of Totalitarianism

The Origins of Totalitarianism
By Hannah Arendt

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Product Description

Generally regarded as the definitive work on totalitarianism, this book is an essential component of any study of twentieth-century political movements. Arendt was one of the first to recognize that Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union were two sides of the same coin rather than opposing philosophies of Right and Left. “With the Origins of Totalitarianism Hannah Arendt emerges as the most original and profound-therefore the most valuable-political theoretician of our times” (New Leader). Index.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #45035 in Books
  • Published on: 1973-03-21
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Paperback
  • 576 pages

Customer Reviews

Perhaps History Can Turn Our Heads5
There is of course nothing that I can add to the acclamations of the New York Times, the New Leader, and H. Stuart Hughes.

This book makes it clear that for totalitarianism to occur, there must first exist a combination of bourgouisie political power lacking the sense of duty required or the old nobility, a propaganda system reinforced by an arrogant intellectual community, and an alienated mass culture demanding "change".

These elements were present in Europe at the beginning of the 20th century. Now, with the complicity of both political parties in the deconstruction of our culture, the stage appears to be set in America.

Unreadable1
I am sure that there are some important points made in this book, but its turgid prose is so difficult to understand, it is not worth the effort. It takes its place on my bookshelf next to Being and Nothingness. Next time you see it on someone's bookshelf, ask them to summarize it, or discuss what they thought of it. You will probably get a few uncomfortable looks.

Arendt's Opus Magnum5
Origins, an incredibly detailed analysis of Stalinist Russia and Nazi Germany, shows Arendt's versatility in political thought. I have yet to see a political philosopher/thinker publish a work with this much depth to it, and I think it will be a long time before we see anything like it.

Many of the reviews here have done better justice to her legacy, so I will just say that if you are thinking twice about pursuing this work because of it's length, think three times.